Mission StatementThe Foundation's mission is two-fold: Preservation - to conserve, protect, and maintain Monticello in a manner which leaves it enhanced and unimpaired for future generations; and, Education - to interpret and present Thomas Jefferson to the widest possible audiences, including scholars and the general public.

MissionThe Foundation's mission is two-fold: Preservation - to conserve, protect, and maintain Monticello in a manner which leaves it enhanced and unimpaired for future generations; and, Education - to interpret and present Thomas Jefferson to the widest possible audiences, including scholars and the general public.

Impact

Many of our past accomplishments are linked to our on-going goals that we seek to attain. We strive to continue the rise of visitation by transforming the visitor experience and engaging visitors with a dialogue of Jefferson's ideas.

We continue to focus on our preservation of the landscape of slavery at "Mulberry Row," the heart of plantation activity in Monticello. With further archaeological digging and restoration of the dependencies, we have restored this road scheme to make the invisible world of slavery visible.

Due to overwhelming demand we have increased the number of “Behind the Scenes” tours going to the second and third floors of the house, including the Dome Room. These tours give visitors a chance to explore Jefferson’s three-dimensional autobiography, Monticello.

Also, our impact on school children is growing, with more classes participating in our in-depth K-12 study programs. We look towards expanding educational outreach programs to more children, families, teachers and adults.

Needs

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s 2016 top fundraising goals include:

Continuing preservation of the landscape of slavery at “Mulberry Row,” the heart of plantation activity at Monticello. The foundation is restoring this area to make the invisible world of slavery more visible to both our “real” and “virtual” visitors.

Complete restoration of the upper levels of the House and enrich the visitor's experience and understanding of Monticello as a bustling and lively plantation home.

Furthering support for Education programming, including funding that would allow inner-city students to come and experience Monticello through our in-depth K-12 study programs.

Continuing support for the Monticello Annual Fund, through which the Foundation makes significant strides toward the enhancement and stewardship of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

Background

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, now recognized as a National Historic Landmark and the only presidential home on the United Nations World Heritage Site. Since opening in 1924, Monticello has welcomed more than 27 million visitors. The Foundation is also distinguished for its world-class library and academic center, its acquisition and protection of 2,400 acres of Jefferson’s 5,000-acre plantation, its award-winning website, and its 21st-century visitor gateway and education center, welcoming 450,000 people annually.

Its mission is two-fold:

Preservation: To conserve, protect, and maintain Monticello in a manner which leaves it unimpaired for future generations;

Education: To interpret and present Thomas Jefferson and his legacy to the widest possible audience, including scholars, students, educators and the general public.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s vision is to engage a global audience in a dialogue with Jefferson’s ideas. Through virtual, off-site, and on-site engagement, the Foundation stimulates interest in Jefferson and applies its extensive research and knowledge to reveal his genius in a variety of pursuits, from architecture and the arts, horticulture, cuisine, agriculture, natural history and science, to philosophy, political ideals, education and the rights of man.

Areas of Service

Areas Served

Area

Internationally

Although physically located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc. supports programs and education related to the study of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson, and his enduring ideals on site, online, and internationally.

Board Chair

Board ChairMr. Donald A. King Jr.

Company AffiliationBoard of Trustees

TermJan 2013 to Jan 2017

Emailmwynn@monticello.org

Board of Directors

Board Members

Name

Affiliation

John H. Birdsall III

Board of Trustees

Dr. L.D. Britt

Board of Trustees

J. F. Bryan IV

Board of Trustees

Adele Chatfield-Taylor

Board of Trustees

Lee Cochran

Honorary Trustee

Peter J. Coolidge

Board of Trustees

Harlan Crow

Board of Trustees

Charles T. Cullen

Board of Trustees

Ginger Huang Dietrich

Board of Trustees

B. Grady Durham

Board of Trustees

Joseph Erdman

Board of Trustees

Richard Gilder

Honorary Trustee

Brenton S. Halsey

Honorary Trustee

Donald A. King Jr.

Board of Trustees

Fritz R. Kundrun

Board of Trustees

H. Eugene Lockhart

Board of Trustees

E. Charles Longley Jr.

Board of Trustees

Richard A. Mayo

Board of Trustees

David McCullough

Honorary Trustee

Jon Meacham

Board of Trustees

Charlotte Moss

Board of Trustees

Libby H. O'Connell

Board of Trustees

Sarah Perot

Board of Trustees

Pamela C. Reynolds

Board of Trustees

Gilbert P. Schafer III

Board of Trustees

Hunter J. Smith

Emeritus Trustee

Michelle Smith

Board of Trustees

The Honorable John Charles Thomas

Board of Trustees

Board Demographics - Ethnicity

African American/Black2

Asian American/Pacific Islander1

Caucasian25

Hispanic/Latino0

Native American/American Indian0

Board Demographics - Gender

Male20

Female8

Governance

Board Term Lengths3

Board Term Limits3

Written Board Selection Criteria?Yes

Written Conflict of Interest Policy?Yes

Percentage Making Monetary Contributions100

Number of Full Board Meetings Annually2

Other Boards

The tables below contain information about other groups that advise this nonprofit on operations and projects.

DescriptionPerhaps no other home in the United States more accurately reflects the personality of its owner than Monticello. A visit is vital to the understanding of Jefferson, and the Foundation offers a number of tours that range from the intimacy of Jefferson's private suite of rooms in Monticello's main house, to the sensations of his gardens, orchards and vineyards, to the stories of slaves who worked and lived on the plantation.

The Foundation has a long history at the forefront of historic preservation. Among the highlights of our restoration projects are the gardens of the East and West Fronts of Monticello in the 1940s, the recreation of Jefferson's innovative Vegetable Garden Terrace and Pavilion, and the complex roof systems of the main house. In all its pursuits, the Foundation relies upon the continual process of research, restoration, conservation and archaeological initiatives to support the accuracy of its programs.